Method of and apparatus for compressing fluid



mais, 192s. A 1,687,550

C. D. EHRET METHOD or AND APARATUS FOR COMPRESSING FLUID Original FiledFeb. 24. 1922 INVENTOR.

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` Patented Oct. 16, 192B.

UNITED STATES CORNELIUS D. EHRET, OF PHILADELPE-II, PENNSYLVANIA..

METHOD OF .AND APPARATUS FOR, COMPRESSING FLUID. I

Application led February 24, 1922, Serial No. 539,013. Renewed February15, 1928.

My invention relates to a methodof and apparatus for effecting improvedor increased entrainment or diffusion of a fluid by or into a fluid jet;more particularly, my invention relates to a method of and apparatus forimproving or increasing the efficiency of aspiration or ejector actionby increasing the entrainment or diffusion of the fluid to be translatedor compressed by or into the motive fluid jet.

In accordance with my invention, there is produced by any suitablemethod or means an electric field traversed by the molecules, particlesor masses oi or contained in the fluid to be entrained or diffused by orinto the jet, the electric field inducing more effective or greaterdegree of entrainment or diffusion, as by imparting to the molecules,masses or particles electric charges causing them, by increase ofVelocity or otherwise, further or more ellectively to penetrate into thejet.

In accordance With my invention, in connection With aspiration orejector action, the molecules of or particles in the fluid to betranslated or raised in ressure by the Tno t've fluid jet are induced)by the electric field topenetrate or diffuse into or become mixed withthe fluid of the motive jet to greater degree or extent, whereby for agiven amount of motive fluid a greater amount of fluid is translated orcompressed, or for a given amount of fluid to be translated orcompressed rom one point or pressure to another, less energy asrepresented by the motive fluid jet is required.

My invention resides in the method and apparatus hereinafter describedand claimed.l

For ,an understanding of my method, and for an illustration of some ofthe many forms my apparatus may take, reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view, partly in ele vation, of ejector ap aratuswith Which is associated electric eid-producing Irieans, showndiagrammatically.

n Fig. 2 is a sectional of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View of one of the terminals or electrodes and supportingmeans therefor.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of double stage ejector apparatus embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring toFig. l, A is the suction Vchamview on the line 2F42 suchelectrode is indicated at E and consists ber of anjejector through whoseport a en@ ters the fluid to be translated from one point` to another orto be raised in pressure. The fluid may be gas, air, vapor, or a mixtureof any of them, or maybe vas, air or a vapor, or a mixture of anyfot tlem, containing in suspension solidor liquid particles.

In an opening b in a Wall of the chamber A is disposed 'the nozzle deckB dividing the suction chamber A from the motive fluid chamber C, towhich the motive fluid n; de-

livered under suitable pressure by the pipe c.

The motive fluid may be inelastic, as Water or other liquid, or elastic,as steam, air, etc.

Carried by the deck" Bis any suitable nozzle structure, of type orcharacter suited to the motive fluid employed. When elastic motivefluid, as steam, is employed, the snozzle structure is of a type to exand the elastic motive fluid,- and this is in icated by the flaringnozzles N constituting the` nozzle structure. W'hile there is shown aplurality of nozzles, it will be kunderstood that any suitable number ofnozzles, ou a single nozzle may be employed.

The motive fluid is dicharged Jfrom the nozzle structure in jet form andat high ve- A locity, the jet or jets entraining the fluid enteringthe'chamber A at a and'translating it or carryin it along, the mixtureof fluids being disc urged into the diffuser or combining tube structureD, of any suitable type or structure, as Well understood in the ejectorart. Within the structure D the mixture ofmotive and entrained fluidsloses in velocity, but gains in pressure, with the result that the fluidentering the suction cham ber at a is raised in pressure and isdischarged from thevdiffuser structure at dL The structure and its modeof operation above described are those Well understood in the art, andare not per se my invention.

Suitably positioned in the path of the fluid 'entering at a and passingto or toward the motive fluid jet or jets is'disposed a terminal. orelectrode of any suitable form, structure or size. In the exampleillustrated,

of a cylinder of metal gauze or mesh. or any equivalent perforatedstructure, through whose meshes or perforations the fluid en tering atay may readily pass. The diameter or other dimensions of the electrodeE, and the number and size of' its meshes, are pref erably such that theresistance to lion; of the to a spark 'plugof an`internalcomhustioil,.vf engine, having the porcelain orotlieriinslkf fluid entering at a shallbe low and prefer- .from-the surrounding{ lvjarts.,` In. the example. yillustrated -f there.` is 'threaded through. thelwall of thechamber'aplug F, similar4 latmg member f, the joint-.betweenftli v'plug F andthe chamber A and betweenthemsuvlating' member]e and the. 'plugl-Flbeing y made vacuum or prassuretight Extending through the insulatingmember .f is a1 conductor e, to whose innerlend may be secured theelectrode E, whereby the conductor e supports it in operativeposition.'l `.In theexample illust-rated, however, the electrode E hasattached thereto several metal lWire loo s g by which it rests-upon thehooked endps h of the'conductors e yof several plugs F similar to thatabove described, as' ind1` cated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The electrode E,before attachment of the deck B. and chamber C, may be lowered through.the openin b-until the loops g rest upon the hooke ends hu l Asindicated in Fig. 1, G is a source of alternating current, to which isconnected the primary P of a step-up transformer whose high tensionsecondary is indicated at S. The number of turns of the primary P isadjustable, and in series therewith may oyed an adjustable resistance R,the' adjustments effectmg adjustment or vari- `be emp ation of the4potential across the terminals of the secondary S. Connected to thesecondary S is any suitable high ytension rectifying apparatus H By .wayof example merely, 1t may be stated that the rectifying apparatus H maybe a synchronous high tension rectifying switch of any suitablecharacter, such, for example, as described in Letters Patent oftheUnited States No. 954,056. Or the 'rectifyingapparatus may be of thevacuum tube type, `as for example, one or more kenotrons.

In any event, across the terminals z' and of the rectifying apparatuswill be produce a unidirectional, or predominatingly unidirectional,high potential difference.

The magnitude of this potential difference will vary greatly withconditions, and may range from a few hundred volts to thousands ofVolts, or even 100,000 to 200,000 volts, dependin upon circumstances andconditions. principal factor determining the volta e to be employed isthe pressure in the cliamber A.

The terminal i, generally the negative terminal, is connected to theelectrode E, in this instance through. the `conductor e of one or moreof the plugs'FQ The other terminal j is connected to thenozzledeck B,particularly when, as indicated, the deck B is insulated fromthechambers A and C. 'It will be understood, however, that when the deck Bis not insulated, the connectionij 'zul may be made to any conductingorfnietnlliof-f part ofthe apparatus, and-fis'findic'ated in Fig.l 2where the connection is' made to the chamber A from the source G1, whichable source of unidirectional voltage whose 'magnitude is variable oradjustable. f `s indicated in Fig. 1, the nozzle structure is oneterminal or electrode ofthe .high 8o i tension field and. E is theother. f

'Ihe Huid entering thc chamber is charged to a great `difference ofpotential with respect to the nozzle structure and the 7u z in-this case,generically represents any suitjets issuing therefrom, with the resultthat the uid or/and the particles in suspension therem are accelerate orso otherwise o erated upon by the high tension electric eld y' that theentrainment in the jet or jets issuing from the nozzle structure is moreeffective, lwith the result that the efficiency of translationorcompression of the fluid enterin at (L is increased. y

hen the motive fluid is liquid, as water,

which when not chemically pure or distilled l is to considerable degreeconducting, thel liquid 'et is itself in effect a terminal or electro e'of the electric field, as well as the Y 100 metal nozzle structureitself.

When the motive fluid is elastic, as air,

gas or vapor, or a mixture of any of them,

wire or rod k becomes then an electrode of the field within the jetbeyond the nozzle structure.

A mode of sup orting such'wire or rod k is indicated in ig. 5, where, inadvance of the throat t ofthe nozzle N, there are provided spiders orbrackets m for support- 1n and d1recting the rod or wire` k,'the spidersor brackets m, however, allowinv free assage of motive vfluid to andthrong the tliroat t.

In Fig. 4 is shown a` double stage ejector of which the first stage issimilar to that indicated in Fig. 1. In the second stage there isprovided a radial flow motive-fluid-expanding nozzle comprising themembers I, J, with which is associated the surrounding annular diffuserstructure K. This type of ejector is of the character disclosed in U. S.-Patent No. 1,282,595. In the exam le illusof the rectifying apparatusH. In the ath of the discharge from the diffuser D o the first stagetothe second stage ejector are dis" posed the conicalgauze electrodesEl, sup ported by and electrically connected to the conductors e of theplugs F, which are connected by conductor 0 tothe terminal c' 'of therectifying apparatus H, andl at the same terminal is connected theelectrode E of the first sta e ejector. While. 'in the first stage thenoz'z e deck B is shown insulated, it will be understood that theinsulation may be omitted, as described in connection with Fig. 1. As tothe nozzle members I and J, it will be understood that their insulationmay be omitted, and they may be in direct .electrical connection withthe framework of the apparatus.

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The mode of operation in each of the stages of Fig. 4 is of thecharacter described l. in connection with Fig.. l.

As tofFigs.` l and 4, it will be understoodthat the suction pressure inthe suction chamber A may be anything suitable or desirable. It maybeatmospheric pressure, or a pressure above or below atmospheric. Whenthe apparatus is employed for producing or maintaining a vacuum in asteam condenser, the suction pressure may be of the order of one inchmercury absolute.

It will be understood. hat l have illustrated and described ap aratus ofthe-ejector type, and more particu arly such as may be employed forproducing vacuum.' v

' It will be understood, however, that the illustration and descriptionrelate also to YAYthe broad aspects ofmiy invention consistin inimproving` the entrainment or diiusion o a fluid or/and parts insuspension therein into ajet of fluid, AWhether elastic or inelastic.

What I claim is:

l. The method of entraining a fluid by a fluid jet, which consists incausing the fluid to be entrained to traverse an electric field underthe influence thereof to the fluid jet.

2. The method of entraining fluid by a lfluid. jet, -which consists inproducing adjacentvthe jet an electric potential differing from thepotential at a point remote from the jet, and causing the fluid to beentrained to traverse the electric field between said point and saidjet. p t

B The method of entraining fluid by a fluid i et, Which consists inproducing an electric field adjacent the jet, and imparting to the fluidto be entrained a charge causing it to traverse the field to said jet.

4l. The method of entraining a fluid by a fluid jet, which consists inpassing the jet over an electrode, passing the fluid to be entrainedpast a second electrode spaced from said ir'st named electrode, andmaintaining a potential difference between said electrodes causing saidfluid to mingle with said jet.

5. The method ci entrainin an elastic iluid in a jet of elastic fluid, w"cli consists in 'passing the jet along an electrode surrounded by thefree jet, passing the fluid to be ventrained adjacent a second electrodespaced from said first named electrode, and producing a potentialdifference between said electrodes causing the fluid to be entrained topenetrate into said jets.

6. The method of translating a fluid from l one point to another, whichconsists in ro du'cing a motive tluid jet, bringing the uid to betranslated into Contact Wi'ththe jet, and increasing the entraimnent by)an electrostatic eld produced adjacent the jet. 7. The method ofraising the pressure of` elastic iluid, which consists in expandingelastic mot-ive fluid into a jet of high velocity, producing an electricfield adjacent the jet, causing the fluid to be compressed to traversesaid field tothe jet, andconverting the Velocity of the iluid mixtureinto pressure. l

8. The combination with jet-producing means, of an electrode adjacentthe jet, `a second electrode spaced from said iirst named electrode,means for maintaining a difference of potential between said electrodes,and means for directing a fluid past said second electrode toward the]'et produced by said jet-producing means.

A9. An aspirator comprising the combina' tion with nozzle structuredelivering motive fluid, of an electrode spaced therefrom, means fordirecting a dui-d towards said nozec n lill

zle structure, and means for producing adifference of electric potentialbetween said electrode and said nozzlestructure.

l0. Anaspirator comprising the combinationwith a nozzle deliveringmotive fluid, of a conductor disposed within the nozzle pas sage andprojecting be ondv the same, an electrode spaced from said conductor,means for directing a fluid toward said nozzle, and means for producinga difference of potential between said conductor and electrode.

l1. Ejector apparatus comprising a tube having a passage or'progressively changing cross-sectional area, nozzle structure directinga jet thereinto, a perforated electrode surrounding the jet issuing fromthe nozzle structure, means for directing a fluid towards said nozzle,and means for producing a difference of electric potential between saidelectrode and an electrode adjacent said jet.

12. The combinationI with a nozzle, of an fluid toward lsaid nozzle, anda second electrode spaced from said electrode and disposed outside ofthe path of said jet.

13. An aspirator having the combinationtrode disposed in the nozzlepassage and exwith a nozzle having a throat and a diverging passage fromsaid throat to the nozz le outlet, of an electrode disposed'withm saidpassage and extending from said throat to 'the nozzle outlet.

tending through saidthroat. ljAn aspiratorv having th`e combination witha motive fluid expanding nozzle having a throat, of an electrodedisposed in the nozzle passage and extendin through said throat toapoint beyond t e nozzle outlet. 17. An aspirator having the combinationwith a nozzle, of an elongated electrode extending, longitudinallysubstantially in the axis of the nozzle passage.

18. The combination with an ejector comprising a motive-Huid-deliveringnozzle, a suction chamber, and diffuser structure, of a foramin'ouselectrode in said suction cham'- ber spaced from the jet issuing fromsaid nozzle, and means for maintaining an electric field between saidelectrode and a region adjacent said jet.

19. The combination with an ejector comprising a motive-fiuid-deliveringnozzle structure, a suction chamber, and diffuser structure, of a pairof electrodes, one adjacent the jet issuing from said nozzle. struc-lture, another disposed within said suction chamber, and means extendingthrough the wall of said suction chamber supporting said other of saidelectrodes and eliecting electrical Connection therewith.

20. Ejector apparatus vfor producing a vacuum in a steam condensercomprising a suction chamber, diffuser structure, and nozzle structurefor expanding steam into jet formation, electrode structure disposed inthe path of the` fluid to be entrained, a second electrode adjacent saidjet, and means for maintaining an electric field between saidelectrodes.

21. In apparatus of the character del' ture deliverin motive Huid, of amesh electrode dispose adjacent the jet of motive Huid and through whichfluid to be entrained passes.

22. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with anozzle, of an electrode disposed within the nozzle passage.

23. In apparatus of the character de` scribed, the combination with anozzle, of

an electrode disposed within the nozzle passage, and'a second electrodebetween which and said electrode is maintained an electrostatic `field.

24. In apparatus of the character .de-

scribed, the combination with a nozzle, of'

effecting diffusion of the air and vapor into the jet. I 26. The methodof exhausting a steam condenser, Vwhich comprises subjecting the'air andvapor to be exhausted from the condenser to the action of a motive fluidjet,

and eliecting diffusion of the l'air and vapor intpi the jet by theaction of an electrostatic el l 27. Apparatus for producing a vacuum ina condenser comprising a suction chamber connected to said condenser forexhaustin therefrom air 'and vapor, means in sai ejector for producing ajet of motive fluid, and means for effecting diffusion into said jet ofthe air and vapor from the condenser.

28. Apparatus for producing a vacuum in a condenser com rising a suctionchamber connected to sai condenser for exhausting therefrom air andvapor, means in said ejector for producing a jet of motive Huid, andmeans for maintaining adjacent the motive fluid jet an electrostaticfield for causing the moisture from the condenser to diffuse into saidjet.

In testimony whereof I have khereunto afixed my signature this 18thdayof February, 1922.,

CORNELIUS D. EHRET.

